County profile · North Carolina
McDowell County, NC market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in McDowell County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 45,198
- +1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 18,638
- Median household income
- $57,168
- +31.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $171,100
- Jobs located here
- 15,917
- Highest market score
- 82
- Insurance agencies, #179 of 2,272 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in McDowell County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of McDowell County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 45,198 people live in McDowell County, in 18,638 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of McDowell County grew 1.5%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in McDowell County is $57,168 a year, 29% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 31.0% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in McDowell County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 138, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (55).
The highest Groundwork market scores in McDowell County are for insurance agencies (82), dentists and orthodontists (67) and pet businesses (66). McDowell County ranks #179 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
McDowell County is part of the Marion area. For its number of households, McDowell County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (58% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (49% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in McDowell County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares McDowell County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 82 | #179 of 2,272 | 17 | 9.1 | $3M | 236 | 10 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 67 | #332 of 1,886 | 9 | 4.8 | $2M | 205 | 7 |
| Pet businesses | 66 | #434 of 2,200 | 16 | 8.6 | $872K | 99 | 4 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 63 | #392 of 1,493 | 6 | 3.2 | $4M | 138 | 16 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 62 | #519 of 2,063 | 8 | 4.3 | $7.5M | 201 | 8 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 62 | #609 of 2,087 | 16 | 8.6 | $1.9M | 149 | 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 62 | #622 of 2,210 | 22 | 11.8 | $1.4M | 157 | 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 61 | #514 of 1,611 | 6 | 3.2 | $1M | 103 | 4 |
| Physical therapy | 56 | #543 of 1,422 | 5 | 2.7 | $3.6M | 151 | 6 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 56 | #632 of 1,771 | 12 | 6.4 | $2M | 120 | 29 |
| Nail salons | 55 | #525 of 1,328 | 5 | 2.7 | $2.9M | 173 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 55 | #982 of 2,402 | 34 | 18.2 | $3M | 89 | 9 |
| Auto repair shops | 54 | #1,027 of 2,378 | 44 | 23.6 | $403K | 91 | 10 |
| Convenience stores | 53 | #1,030 of 2,261 | 18 | 9.7 | $5.7M | 72 | 3 |
| Gas stations | 53 | #1,041 of 2,358 | 32 | 17.2 | $1.8M | 77 | 23 |
| Auto repair and car care | 53 | #1,106 of 2,401 | 72 | 38.6 | $246K | 92 | 18 |
| Grocery stores | 52 | #940 of 2,070 | 12 | 6.4 | $8.6M | 92 | 6 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 52 | #1,072 of 2,405 | 69 | 37.0 | $864K | 130 | 30 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 51 | #1,122 of 2,385 | 63 | 33.8 | $229K | 108 | 4 |
| Gyms | 47 | #1,019 of 1,792 | 8 | 4.3 | $1.3M | 97 | 5 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 46 | #1,073 of 1,889 | 14 | 7.5 | $4.3M | 103 | 8 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 46 | #1,272 of 2,176 | 33 | 17.7 | Index only | 140 | 13 |
| Real estate | 46 | #1,277 of 2,229 | 40 | 21.5 | Index only | 145 | 21 |
| Pizza | 45 | #1,225 of 2,090 | 13 | 7.0 | $4.6M | 90 | 34 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 44 | #1,441 of 2,405 | 153 | 82.1 | $390K | 105 | 73 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 42 | #1,434 of 2,088 | 18 | 9.7 | $558K | 84 | 5 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 41 | #1,620 of 2,394 | 99 | 53.1 | $183K | 120 | 41 |
| Barbershops | 40 | #924 of 1,356 | 7 | 3.8 | $2.1M | 109 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 38 | #1,564 of 2,057 | 22 | 11.8 | $2.1M | 88 | 35 |
| Electricians | 37 | #870 of 1,160 | 5 | 2.7 | $9.4M | 78 | 14 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 36 | #1,639 of 2,222 | 26 | 13.9 | $2.3M | 75 | 34 |
| Hair salons | 36 | #1,823 of 2,339 | 35 | 18.8 | $413K | 96 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | 35 | #1,137 of 1,530 | 9 | 4.8 | $2M | 79 | 6 |
| Car washes and detailing | 34 | #1,119 of 1,451 | 10 | 5.4 | $1.8M | 70 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 32 | #1,348 of 1,656 | 15 | 8.0 | $1.2M | 68 | 23 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 31 | #1,480 of 1,707 | 16 | 8.6 | $2.9M | 61 | 16 |
| Spas and skin care | 31 | #1,502 of 1,769 | 16 | 8.6 | $903K | 103 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 28 | #1,231 of 1,461 | 10 | 5.4 | $1.4M | 55 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 24 | #1,213 of 1,334 | 7 | 3.8 | $1.4M | 71 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | $4.5M | 190 | 5 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | $4.4M | 144 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | $722K | 106 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | $6M | 94 | 13 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | Index only | 161 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $4.7M | 103 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $4.7M | 171 | 4 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $3.3M | 82 | 5 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $15.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $9.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $12.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $17.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | Index only | Too few | 6 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $46.8M | Too few | 5 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $18.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in McDowell County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $17.7M | $952 | 99 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $58.4M | $3,135 | 121 |
| Food away from home | $59.6M | $3,199 | 79 |
| Groceries | $102.8M | $5,515 | 87 |
| Personal care products and services | $14.5M | $775 | 77 |
| Child care and other personal services | $6.2M | $331 | 57 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $10M | $539 | 55 |
| Medical and dental services | $18.1M | $974 | 76 |
| Pets | $14M | $749 | 82 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $30.4M | $1,629 | 79 |
| Vehicle insurance | $50.4M | $2,703 | 138 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $46.8M | $2,509 | 83 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $24.2M | $1,296 | 92 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $251.9M | $13,518 | 81 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in McDowell County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 45,198+1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 18,638
- Median age
- 44.7
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 76%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 440 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 102
- Median household income
- $57,168+31.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $72,753
- Median home value
- $171,100
- Jobs located here
- 15,917
- Daytime population
- 39,859Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in McDowell County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of McDowell County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in North Carolina 8
- Mitchell County, NC14,992 people
- Burke County, NC87,795 people
- Yancey County, NC18,797 people
- Rutherford County, NC64,930 people
- Avery County, NC17,680 people
- Polk County, NC19,891 people
- Buncombe County, NC274,360 people
- Caldwell County, NC80,536 people
Questions
How fast is McDowell County, NC growing?
Population estimates put McDowell County at 45,198 people in 2025, up 1.5% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 18,638 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 31.0%, before inflation.
How much do households in McDowell County, NC spend?
Households in McDowell County spend about $251.9M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $102.8M on groceries and $59.6M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in McDowell County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 138, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (55).
Which business types have the highest market scores in McDowell County, NC?
Of the business types scored in McDowell County, insurance agencies (82), dentists and orthodontists (67) and pet businesses (66) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #179 of 2,272 scored counties.
How does McDowell County, NC compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in McDowell County is $57,168, 29% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $171,100, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (58% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (49% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 39 of the 56 business types have a score in McDowell County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in McDowell County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in North Carolina · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in McDowell County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of McDowell County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.